Buy the Garrett Pro-Pointer AT (Amazon search) if you hunt in water or want the simpler, cheaper tool: Garrett rates it waterproof to 20 feet and it has a lost-pinpointer alarm. Buy the Minelab PRO-FIND 40 if you dig in iron-heavy ground: its Ferrous Tone ID flags iron with a different tone, and it has five sensitivity levels to Garrett’s three. Both run on one 9-volt battery and include a belt holster.
This comparison uses Garrett’s and Minelab’s published specifications and store listings, checked on October 3, 2026. It is desk research. Nobody here has used either pinpointer.
Side-by-side specs
| Garrett Pro-Pointer AT | Minelab PRO-FIND 40 | |
|---|---|---|
| Waterproof rating | 20 ft (6 m), IP68 | 3 m (10 ft), fresh and salt water |
| Sensitivity | 3 levels | 5 levels |
| Iron indication | No | Ferrous Tone ID (dual tone) |
| Retune | Fast Retune (quick button press) | Rapid Re-tune |
| Feedback | Proportional audio and vibration; vibrate-only stealth mode | Audio (on/off) and vibration that strengthens near the target |
| Detector interference | Not listed | DIF (Detector Interference Free) |
| Lost-tool protection | Lost alarm after 5 minutes without a button press; auto power-off after 60 minutes of chirps | Not listed on Minelab’s product page or spec sheet |
| Extras | LED light, scraping blade, inch/cm ruler, 360° side scan plus tip | LED flashlight, lanyard |
| Weight | 6.5 oz with battery | 234 g (8.3 oz) with battery |
| Battery | 9V, included | 9V PP3, included, about 20 hours nominal |
| Warranty | 3 years | 24 months |
| Maker’s price band (Oct 3, 2026) | $100 to $125 (Garrett) | $125 to $150 (Minelab US) |
Garrett Pro-Pointer AT: the default for water and simplicity
Garrett rates the Pro-Pointer AT IP68 and waterproof to 20 feet (6 m), twice the PRO-FIND 40’s 3 m rating. That makes it the safer pick for wading, creek work and snorkel-depth recovery. Everything runs from one button: power, retune, sensitivity and a vibrate-only stealth mode. Fast Retune shrinks the detection field so you can find the edge of a large target, or tune out wet sand and mineralized ground.
Two features matter if you tend to set the tool down in grass. After 5 minutes without a button press, the Pro-Pointer AT chirps as a lost-pinpointer alarm. After 60 minutes of chirps, it powers itself off. The molded ruler and scraping blade help you judge depth and work the side of a plug.
Trade-offs: there are only three sensitivity levels and no iron ID, so a rusty nail sounds the same as a coin until you see it.
Minelab PRO-FIND 40: better for trashy, iron-heavy ground
The PRO-FIND 40’s main advantage is Ferrous Tone ID. Minelab says the pinpointer uses dual audio tones to separate ferrous from non-ferrous targets. In a hole that holds both a nail and a coin, that is a useful hint about which one you are touching. Five sensitivity levels give finer control than the Pro-Pointer AT’s three. Minelab’s DIF (Detector Interference Free) design is meant to cut chatter from your own or a nearby detector, which helps at group hunts.
Trade-offs: at $125 to $150 it costs more, it is rated only to 3 m (10 ft), and Minelab’s listing doesn’t mention a lost-pinpointer alarm. A tone is a hint, not proof. Size, depth and corrosion still affect what you hear, so keep digging carefully.
Which one should you buy?
- Water hunting, snorkeling depth or surf wash: Pro-Pointer AT (20 ft vs 10 ft).
- Iron-littered homesites, relic fields, trashy parks: PRO-FIND 40, for the ferrous tone.
- Group hunts next to other detectors: PRO-FIND 40. DIF is a listed feature. Garrett doesn’t list an equivalent.
- Tight budget or a first pinpointer: Pro-Pointer AT, which is roughly $25 to $50 cheaper at the makers’ prices and has a longer warranty.
- You often lose small tools: Pro-Pointer AT, which has a documented lost alarm.
Neither pinpointer replaces your detector’s search coil. Find the target with the coil first and use the pinpointer to locate it inside the plug. If you are still learning to center a target, the beginner’s first 30 minutes checklist covers coil pinpointing and recovery basics. If iron is your main problem, the notch and rejection settings guide explains what your detector can do before you dig.
FAQ
Which is more waterproof, the Pro-Pointer AT or the PRO-FIND 40?
The Pro-Pointer AT. Garrett rates it waterproof to 20 feet (6 m, IP68). Minelab rates the PRO-FIND 40 to 3 m (10 ft).
Can either pinpointer tell iron from other metals?
Only the PRO-FIND 40. Minelab’s Ferrous Tone ID uses a different tone for ferrous targets. The Pro-Pointer AT gives proportional audio and vibration without iron ID.
Sources
- Garrett, Pro-Pointer AT product page and specification comparison (PN 1140900, price, 20 ft / 6 m IP68, three sensitivity levels, Fast Retune, lost alarm and auto power-off timings, stealth mode, ruler, scraping blade, weight, temperature range, warranty).
- Minelab, PRO-FIND 40 US store listing (SKU 3226-0005, price, Ferrous Tone ID, DIF, Rapid Re-tune, vibration, holster and lanyard).
- Minelab, PRO-FIND 40 tech specs (5 sensitivity levels, 3 m waterproofing, 9V PP3 battery and 20-hour nominal life, length, weight, 24-month warranty).